Apparatus for handling paving-blocks



(No Model.)

J. SHERIDAN; v APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PAVING BLOCKS.

No. 568,147. Patented Sept. 22,1896;

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. UNITED STATESDPATENT .FFICE.

JAMES SHERIDAN, OFFRANKDIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATLJSF'OR HANDLINGPAVING-BLOCKS.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,147, dated.September 22, 1896.

Application filed June 16,1894. Renewed July 14,1896. Serial No-599,195. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatl, JAMES SHERIDAN, a resident of Franklin, in the countyof Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Paving Blocks; and Istored or piled and place them in position on the road-bed without thenecessity of rehandling, thus expediting the laying of the pavement andreducing the expense thereof.

A further object is to produce a device for I the purpose stated whichshall be simple in construction and eifectual in all respects in theperformance of its functions.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts,-ashereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims. In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating my improvedapparatus. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a sectional view. 1

A represents a frame of sufficient size to receive one, two, or threeyards of paving blocks or bricks, and comprises end bars a a and sidebars I) b, the latter preferably being made hollow. The frame normallyrests loosely on cross-bars c 0, having upwardlyprojecting lugs c attheir ends adapted to lie parallel with the side bars of the frame, andto said cross-bars an arched board or plate 0 is secured and constitutes'abase on which the blocks or bricks placed within the frame rest. Therespective ends of the plate or base 0 are made with notches d d for theaccommodation of lugs e e, projecting, respectively, from the cross orend bar a of the frame and a movable cross-bar f, the purpose and arwhenreleased. the frame and the movable cross-bar f a rangement of whichlatter will be presently explained. Hinged at their upper edges to theside bars I) b of the frame A are clamping bars or plates D D, and inthe hollow side bars b bfloutside of said clamping bars or plates,shafts g g are respectively mountj ed, oneend of each shaft projectingbeyond the end of the frame A,-where they are pro vided with crank-armsh h, and said crankarms are connected together by means of a rod orpitman 2'. One of the shafts will preferably be made angular at its freeend for the reception of a suitable crank by means of which to turn it.To each shaft 9 ga series of cams j is secured, said cams being adapted,when the shafts are turned in one direction,

to engage the rear faces of the clamping bars A or plates D D and forcethem into intimate contact with the blocks or bricks in the frame,

said clamping-bars constituting the bases of the arch of blocksorbricks. Should the arch of blocks be not sufficient to completely spanthe space between the clamping-bars, a fillin g-strip k maybe employed.

The movable cross-bar f is mounted loosely at its ends on the shafts gg, and on said shafts, between the ends of said movable cross-bar andlugs or abutments Z in the hollow side bars I) I), springs to areplaced, so as to return said cross-bar to its normal position Betweenthe end bar a of which pivoted dogs are adapted toengage and prevent theshafts from rotating when the arch of bricks or blocks shall have beenclamped in the frame.

By providing the cross-bars aand f with 9 lugs e e recesses e 6 will beformed, and when the blocks or bricks are placed in position in theframe one end ofeach'row'will rest in a recess and the other end againsta lug at the opposite end of the frame, and thus the blocks or bricks ofone row will break joints with those of the adjacent row.

A frame A, having an arched base, as above explained, will be firstplaced on a wagon or car and the blocks or bricks placed therein, asabove described, and said blocks or bricks will then be clamped in theframe. Another frame will be placed on the first and another series ofblocks or bricks placed and clamped in the second frame. Any desirednumber of frames A, containing blocks or bricks,will be piled one onanother, but the bottom frame only will be provided with the archedboard or base, the blocks or bricks themselves forming the base forthose above.

WVhen the place where the pavement is to be laid is reached, a frame A,containing the blocks or bricks, will be lifted off the car or wagon andplaced on the road-bed, preferably by means of a suitable crane orderrick. When the frame shall have been thus placed on the road-bed, theclamping devices will be released and the blocks or bricks permitted tofall upon the road-bed in the position in which it is desired they shallremain. The empty frames will be loaded on another wagon or car ready tobe transported to the place of supply, where they will be again filledin the same manner as above explained.

My improvements are very simple in construction. By their use therepeated handling of the blocks or bricks will be avoided, thus savingmuch time and labor,an d my improvements are effectual in all respectsin the performance of their functions.

Various slight changes might be made in the details of construction ofmy invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting itsscope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details ofconstruction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for handling blocks or bricks, the combination with aframe, and clamps, of cam mechanism outside of the clamps for forcingthem toward each other against the blocks or bricks to hold the latterbetween the clamps, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for handling bricks and blocks, the combination witha frame and base upon which the blocks or bricks are piled, of clamps atone edge at least adapted to fasten the bricks or blocks in the frame,substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for handling paving blocks or bricks, the combinationwith a frame adapted to receive said blocks or bricks between its sidesand, of clamping devices for retaining said blocks or bricks in theframe, and an arched base under said frame for the reception of saidblocks or bricks, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for handling paving blocks or bricks, the combinationwith a frame adapted to receive said blocks or bricks, of clampingdevices for retaining said blocks or bricks in the frame, lugs at theends of said frame, and an arched base for the reception of said bricksor blocks, said base being constructed at its ends to enter the spacesbetween said lugs, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for handling paving blocks or bricks, the combinationwith a frame comprising side and end bars, of clamping-bars connectedwith said side bars, shafts carried by the side bars, and cams carriedby said shafts and adapted to cause said clamping-bars to clamp theblocks in the frame, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for handling paving blocks or bricks, the combinationwith a frame comprising side and end bars, of clamping-bars connectedwith said side bars, shafts carried by the side bars, cams securedtosaid shafts and adapted to force the clampingbars against the blocks orbricks in the frame, crank-arms carried by said shafts, a pitmanconnecting said crank-arms whereby to cause them to turn together, a camcarried by one of said shafts at or near one end, and a pivoted dogadapted to be made to engage said last-mentioned cam to retain theshafts in locked position, substantially as set forth.

'7. In an apparatus for handling paving blocks or bricks, thecombination with a frame, comprising end bars and hollow side bars, ofclamping-bars hinged to said side bars, shafts mounted in the hollowside bars, cams secured to said shafts and adapted to cause theclamping-bars to clamp the blocks or bricks in the frame, and means forretaining said shafts in locked position, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for handling paving blocks or bricks, the combinationwith a frame comprising end and side bars, of clamping-bars connectedwith the side bars, shafts mounted in the side bars, cams carried bysaid shafts and adapted to operate the clamping-bars to clamp the blocksor bricks in the frame, a cross-bar mounted looselyat its ends on saidshafts, springs interposed between said cross-bar and lugs in the sidebars, a shaft in rear of said cross-bar and cams on said shaft adaptedto move said cross-bar to clamp the blocks or bricks between it and theopposite end of the frame, substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus for handling paving blocks or bricks, the combinationwith a frame adapted to receive a series of paving blocks or bricksarranged in the form of an arch, of clamping devices adapted toconstitute the bases of said arch, a movable cross bar near one end ofthe frame, ashaft mounted in rear-of said movable cross-bar, cams onsaid shaft adapted to engage said cross-bar and clamp the blocks orbricks between it IIO and the opposite end of the frame, a cam se- Intestimony whereof I have signed this cured to said shaft at or near oneend, and a specification in the presence of two subscribdog pivoted tothe frame and adapted to ening witnesses.

gage said last-mentioned earn and lock the JAMES SHERIDAN. 5 shaft inposition When the blocks or bricks WVitnesses:

are clamped in the frame, substantially as T. B. LA RUE,

set forth. E. H. LAMBERTON.

